Halloween might be over, but for DnD players, the scares are all year round. From classic ghouls and goblins to homebrew horrors like the false hydra, there's no shortage of terror across the realms. But there's one massive region with a bonafide menagerie of infamous monsters, and that's the U-S of A. These cryptids have dominated American folklore for decades. Thanks to this third-party resource, these iconic creatures can now terrorize your party.
Dice Dungeons just launched a campaign for P.T. Lamark's Cryptid Codex: A Bestiary for 5e. This resource promises over 60 brand-new monsters, and each U.S. state gets a spotlight. The monsters have unique statblocks and loot, on top of the rich lore inspired by real-life tellings. It's just as loaded with text as any of the great DnD books.
Adding to the immaculate campfire vibes is the artstyle for the cryptids, in black-and-whte sketchy glory. As a massive fan of these folklore creatures, I can't wait to bring them to an urban DnD campaign. Personal favorites of mine include West Virginia's Mothman and the savage Jersey Devil. But it's not just popular names, as more obscure cryptids like the Fresno Nightcrawlers and the Flatwoods Monster also make appearances.
The publisher also gave away a free playtest sample on the Kickstarter page, with a handful of creatures to test out. Fortunately, my favs were already on here, and I feel extra validated now that I've tested them out. With 19 days to go, the campaign has already hit all of its milestones. Stretch goals such as modular lairs and custom cryptid hunter backgrounds will now come with the finished package.
The Kickstarter campaign for P.T. Lamark's Cryptid Codex ends on November 20, 2025. Early backers will get access to playtest material throughout the book's development. Not only are they fun, it allows players to help balance their favorite cryptids before retail release.
The Wargamer Discord has plenty of DnD fans to talk about cool homebrew stuff with. Speaking of DnD, why not try out these DnD horror oneshots for your terrifying sessions?